Woodburn House, Hyde Park Historic District, Austin, Texas (1 of 2)
This stately mansion, built in 1909 by John B. Headspeth for Francis H. Wagner, a freight agent for the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad, originally stood at 200 East 40th Street. Frank and Bettie Hamilton Woodburn bought the home in 1920 and it remained in the family until the 1970s. Bettie was the daughter of Jack Hamilton, a colorful Texas character: a friend of Lincoln and a Union sympathizer, forced to hide out and then leave Texas after secession; he returned as Governor appointed by President Andrew Jackson. Bettie Woodburn wrote and proofread many speeches for her father, a highly praised orator.
In 1978, the Hyde Park Baptist Church purchased the house, which was already zoned historic, and planned to move it out of the city. To Hyde Park, the house symbolized the neighborhood’s commitment to restoration and revitalization. After a year-long struggle, the church allowed George Boutwell to move the house to its present location at 4401 Avenue D.
The move saved the structure but negated its historic designation. Boutwell restored the exterior and rebuilt the porches. In 1980, he sold the house to Larry and Terry Smith, who helped him regain its historic designation as a City of Austin Historic Landmark.
The following owners, Herb and Sandra Dickson, continued with interior renovations and operated the house as a bed and breakfast. The Woodburn House features elements of Queen Anne and neo-
classical styles. It combines a late Victorian asymmetrical plan and a steeply pitched roof with a classical two-story wraparound gallery featuring Doric columns and turned balusters.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the Hyde Park Historic District includes an eclectic mixture of architectural styles, from late 19th-century Queen Anne and Classical Revival homes to 20th-century bungalows and ranch houses. Additionally, many of the houses and buildings in Hyde Park have been designated City of Austin Historic Landmarks and Texas Historic Landmarks.
Source: 2019 Hyde Park Neighborhood Association Homes Tour
Woodburn House, Hyde Park Historic District, Austin, Texas (1 of 2)
This stately mansion, built in 1909 by John B. Headspeth for Francis H. Wagner, a freight agent for the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad, originally stood at 200 East 40th Street. Frank and Bettie Hamilton Woodburn bought the home in 1920 and it remained in the family until the 1970s. Bettie was the daughter of Jack Hamilton, a colorful Texas character: a friend of Lincoln and a Union sympathizer, forced to hide out and then leave Texas after secession; he returned as Governor appointed by President Andrew Jackson. Bettie Woodburn wrote and proofread many speeches for her father, a highly praised orator.
In 1978, the Hyde Park Baptist Church purchased the house, which was already zoned historic, and planned to move it out of the city. To Hyde Park, the house symbolized the neighborhood’s commitment to restoration and revitalization. After a year-long struggle, the church allowed George Boutwell to move the house to its present location at 4401 Avenue D.
The move saved the structure but negated its historic designation. Boutwell restored the exterior and rebuilt the porches. In 1980, he sold the house to Larry and Terry Smith, who helped him regain its historic designation as a City of Austin Historic Landmark.
The following owners, Herb and Sandra Dickson, continued with interior renovations and operated the house as a bed and breakfast. The Woodburn House features elements of Queen Anne and neo-
classical styles. It combines a late Victorian asymmetrical plan and a steeply pitched roof with a classical two-story wraparound gallery featuring Doric columns and turned balusters.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the Hyde Park Historic District includes an eclectic mixture of architectural styles, from late 19th-century Queen Anne and Classical Revival homes to 20th-century bungalows and ranch houses. Additionally, many of the houses and buildings in Hyde Park have been designated City of Austin Historic Landmarks and Texas Historic Landmarks.
Source: 2019 Hyde Park Neighborhood Association Homes Tour